Tarl Knight | From Artist to Theatre Owner

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Posted on February 11, 2022 by williamt

Bird in the Wings welcomes Tarl Knight to the pod. Tarl is a musician and co-owner of a historic theatre located in the heart of Downtown Green Bay, now known as the Tarlton Theatre. Kelli & Tarl discuss his early life, his adventures as an artist, as well as how he came to co-own & run a 1920s style theatre house. Plus, they preview an exciting new partnership between The Weidner and the Tarlton.

Happy Listening.

About our Guest: Tarl Knight

Tarl Knight is a musician, director of The Shipyard District, Inc. and co-owner of a historic theatre located in the heart of downtown Green Bay, now known as the Tarlton Theatre. Visit the Tarlton Theatre’s website and follow them on Facebook to learn more about upcoming events.

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Jeté into the Arts with Tim Josephs!

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Posted on November 11, 2021 by williamt

Bird in the Wings hosts the Artistic Director of Northeastern Wisconsin Dance Organization, Tim Josephs, and discusses his artistic pursuits in visual and performing arts in and outside of the Green Bay area.

Happy listening!

NEWDO’s “The Nutcracker” will team up with the Weidner Philharmonic for its premiere debut at the Weidner Center. This will be Green Bay’s only The Nutcracker ballet with live orchestra. Join in for a live performance this Thanksgiving weekend. Click here for more information and tickets.

About our Guest: Tim Josephs

Tim Josephs is originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, and did academic work at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. He further pursued his education at North Carolina’s School for the Arts and studied ballet, as well as traveled abroad in Holland to learn and study historic Dutch paintings. Tim has been the director of the Green Bay School of Dance since 1983, and is also the choreographer for their Nutcracker Ballet. More so, Tim has been the Ballet Instructor at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay for over 10 years. This interview goes in depth of Tim’s educational journey as a young artist, and his path leading back to Green Bay.

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Boys and Girls Club of Greater Green Bay – Youth Arts Initiative

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Posted on April 22, 2021 by williamt

Bird in the Wings welcomes three young artists, Teagan, Talson, and Josiah, members of the Youth Arts Initiative program at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Green Bay. These three students had just finished the fourth book of their comic book series.

They are accompanied by professional teaching artist Craig Knitt, who supervises their creative endeavors. Listen to them discuss the making of their comic book series and success as an after-school program.

Happy Listening!

Participants of the Youth Arts Initiative program have access to professional teaching artists, high-quality arts programming, and a creative outlet. Through three esteemed art programs—digital video, graphic design, and dance, there has been increased confidence and success in-and-outside the classroom. Youth Arts Initiative builds real life problem-solving skills, develops social and emotional competencies, and provides new outlets for self-expression.

Click here for more information on the Youth Arts Initiative program at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Green Bay.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay proudly serves an average of 500 children a day throughout its 12 locations. Whether the focus is academic success, good character and citizenship, or living a healthy lifestyle, the secret recipe is in providing enriching educational opportunities by cleverly disguising them as fun.

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Neil Brookshire – Acting in a New World

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Posted on February 18, 2021 by williamt

Bird in the Wings welcomes actor Neil Brookshire to season 3 of the pod. Neil is a Door County based actor, visual artist, and filmmaker. In this episode of the pod, Kelli and Neil discuss how he began acting, and his journey as an artist up to now with the newly produced solo theatre piece, Bent Compass, which Neil co-wrote and stars in.

Happy Listening!

Bent Compass is a solo performance co-written by Neil Brookshire and Colin Sesek. It is based on true stories and interview transcripts of Colin’s real-life experiences as an army medic in Iraq. This pre-recorded performance of Bent Compassis a collaboration with Dirt Hills Productions and the Weidner Center, it is directed by Phil Darius Wallace and performed by Neil Brookshire.

An Encore Performance of Bent Compass will premiere on Monday, March 1 at 7:00 PM on the Weidner Center’s YouTube Channel

The performance will remain available for viewing until Thursday, March 4 at 12 midnight.

(Please Note: This performance contains graphic language and depictions of violence, viewer discretion is advised.)

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the Sate of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Neil Brookshire, Actor, Co-Writer, Bent Compass

About Our Guest:

Neil Brookshire is an actor, visual artist and filmmaker. He is the founder of Dirt Hills Productions, which produces short films and audio theater. Neil has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Boise State and an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University.

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Third Avenue Playhouse – Virtual Play Reading is Fundamental

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Posted on January 28, 2021 by williamt

Bird in the Wings welcomes Robert Boles & James Valcq, Co-Artistic Directors of Door County’s Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) to the pod.

James & Robert discuss with Kelli the influence of the immediate and long term aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts & culture sector of our economy, as well as hope for the future of live performing post COVID.

Playworks 2021: Virtual Play Reading Series:

TAP is thrilled to announce that our annual play reading series (normally held over two winter weekends) has been expanded! The new series, entitled PlayWorks 2021, will begin on February 5 and feature 2 readings per month through June of 2021. All readings will be produced live and include a talkback with the director and cast immediately following.

Click Here to learn more about TAP’s PlayWorks 2021: Virtual Play Reading Series

About Our Guests: Click the pics below to read their full bios!

James Valcq

Robert Boles

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Michael Stebbins – Door Shakespeare in the Time of COVID

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Posted on December 3, 2020 by williamt

Season 3 of Bird in the Wings continues with an interview with Michael Stebbins, the Artistic Director of Door Shakespeare. Kelli and Michael discuss the process of programming live theatre in the time of COVID-19, which has completely reshaped how live performing arts operates, as well as upcoming virtual events from Door Shakespeare. Happy Listening

Upcoming Door Shakespeare Events:

Holidays on Ice, by David Sedaris December 4, 5, 18, 19 at 7 pm • December 6 and 20 • at 5 pm

Reading of select essays from the David Sedaris classic. See More Info Here

Dream Upon Avon by John Kishline December 11 and 12 at 7 pm • December 13 • at 5 pm

Virtual Reading. It is Christmas Eve at the Windmill Inn, Shakespeare’s favorite pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon. While the Bard quaffs his favorite beverage at his usual table, he encounters a series of visitors, each with an unrealized dream and unanswered questions. As things turn out, the Bard has some questions, too, for his visitors, as both playwright and guests discover the true meaning of Christmas. See More Info Here

The Door Shakespeare Reading Series is free and open to the public, with donations welcomed.

About Our Guest:
Michael Stebbins has appeared on regional stages across the country, from NYC [off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre Company and The Public Theater] to CA [Berkeley Repertory Theatre] and many states in-between. As a director, his work has been seen at summer stock, college and regional theatres. In 2005, after being based in NYC for 12 years, he was hired as the producing artistic director of Rep Stage, a regional theatre based in MD. While there he championed works of up-and-coming playwrights [Liz Duffy Adams, David Davalos, Will Eno, Stephen Karam] and also programmed long-forgotten chestnuts. Wisconsin credits include Chamber Theatre, Theatre Gigante’s “My Dear Othello,” “I Am My Own Wife,” and “Woyzeck.” Last summer he appeared in Optimist Theatre’s “Much Ado About Nothing.” In May/June of 2018, he will be featured in Skylight Music Theatre’s production of “Urinetown.” Michael received his BFA/MFA from UWM’s Professional Theatre Training Program. He is the recipient of a Helen Hayes Tribute Award for his work in the DC/MD/VA region, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

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Adam Gaines & John Salerno – Jazz Fest 50

Posted on January 16, 2020 by stricklk@uwgb.edu

UW-Green Bay’s Jazz Fest is turning 50! Bird in the Wings is celebrating with a deep dive in to the world of a working jazz musician in NE Wisconsin. UWGB Music Professors, Dr. Adam Gaines and Dr. John Salerno talk with Kelli about their paths to becoming teaching and performing artists. Happy Listening!

Learn more about Jazz Fest HERE

About Our Guests:
ADAM GAINES is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. In addition to teaching the trumpet studio, Dr. Gaines directs jazz ensembles, teaches jazz history courses and works with music technology. Dr. Gaines has performed as a soloist in his native Kentucky, throughout the U.S. and internationally. In the Green Bay area he can frequently be heard performing with Gypsy Trip and with Brass Differential. He holds degrees from the University of Louisville (Bachelor of Music, 1999) and Ball State University (Master of Music, 2001 and Doctor of Arts, 2005). Dr. Gaines frequently travels to Slovakia and the Czech Republic to perform and to spend time with his wife Ladislava’s family.

JOHN SALERNO teaches saxophone, composition, jazz ensemble and other jazz related classes. Under his direction, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Jazz Ensemble has performed at both the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe. As a saxophonist he has worked with a variety of notable groups and artists including The Spinners, The Jacksons, Engelbert Humperdinck, Roberta Flack, Joe Williams and many others. Dr. Salerno is a published composer and arranger, and has written works for a variety of styles and media. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, judging at many jazz festivals throughout the country, including the prestigious University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival. He directs the annual University of Wisconsin-Green Bay January Jazz Fest, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Summer Jazz Camp, two of the oldest and most popular jazz events of their kind in Wisconsin.

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Michael Shaw (Part II): Live from Common CAHSS

Posted on December 16, 2019 by stricklk@uwgb.edu

The second part of our interview with Michael Shaw is brought to our listeners LIVE from UW-Green Bay’s Common CAHSS 2019.

In Part 2 Kelli and Michael discuss the freedom of speech as it relates to artistic expression as a human right. One of Michael’s cartoons came to international prominence following the 2015 terrorist attack on French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. They discuss this and several more of Michael’s cartoons, as well as what the role of the cartoonist is in today’s culture.

Follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram to see more of his work!

Happy Listening!

About Our Guests:

Much like a certain mythical bird, Michael Shaw describes his career as regenerative: A BFA in painting (Webster University) morphing into art education (teaching art in the St. Louis public schools) culminating in a graduate degree in journalism (University of Missouri, Columbia) leading to a successful copywriting career (Lands’ End, Frontgate, Kohl’s) then making a bit of u-turn back to education (Xavier University). Michael also doodles at night—his cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker since 1999.

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Michael Shaw – Cartooning Compulsion

Posted on December 16, 2019 by stricklk@uwgb.edu

A special two-part episode of Bird in the Wings featuring cartoonist and writer, Michael Shaw. Michael’s cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker since 1999.

In Part 1 (of 2) Kelli and Michael discuss how one develops their craft, the winding road on the way to success, and how a cartoonist breaks through such a crowded field and is finally published. As well as having the tenacity, drive and/or compulsion to continue even though the odds are firmly stacked against you.

Follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram to see his work!

Happy Listening!

About Our Guests:

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Noah Simon & Alan Kopischke – A Tuna Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2019 by stricklk@uwgb.edu

Bird in the Wings is BACK! And just in time for the holidays!

Kelli welcomes Noah Simon and Alan Kopischke, two actors starring in A Tuna Christmas at Third Avenue Playhouse (TAP) in Sturgeon Bay Dec 12-31. They discuss with Kelli the personal and professional life of a working actor in NE Wisconsin. Plus, Noah & Alan perform a reading from A Tuna Christmas for our listeners.

Tickets for A Tuna Christmas available HERE

Learn more about The Big Read HERE

Happy Listening!

About Our Guests:

NOAH SIMON makes his TAP debut. He most recently appeared in A Trick of the Light at Peninsula Players, where he was previously seen in the world premiere of Joe Foust’s Once A Ponzi Time. 2019 is Noah’s 30th year as a theatre artist, having spent the majority of that time on many of Chicago’s illustrious stages large and small. He is a proud member of both Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild/AFTRA, and holds a BA in Theatre from Butler University and an MFA in Acting from the Theatre School at DePaul University. Noah teaches Theatre at UW-Green Bay.

About Our Guests:

ALAN KOPISCHKE recently directed Julius Caesar for UW-Green Bay, where he teaches acting. Alan’s many TAP credits include Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Oleanna, and A Walk in the Woods. He has also acted with Steppenwolf, Milwaukee Rep, Peninsula Players, Theatre Z, and regional theatres across the country, including the American Conservatory Theater where he earned his MFA. He has been smacked around by the Chuck Norris family and a real highway patrolman on primetime television and in feature films. He produces the Door Kinetic Arts Festival every June at Björklunden and has created new arts programs in communities around Wisconsin.

*Actor’s Bios courtesy of Third Avenue Playhouse*

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